Biden presidency would calm but not cure trade troubles with U.S., business groups warn
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In addition to committing billions of dollars to federal purchases of American products, materials and services, the platform promises to bring critical supply chains back to the U.S.
“Canada needs to make the case for the role we play in America’s economic security, and why North America should be treated as a region when thinking about supply-chain security,” Agnew said.
Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said Canadian businesses should undoubtedly expect warmer Canada-U.S. relations under a Biden presidency, with fewer erratic trade policy and fewer issues “popping up in the middle of the night” than during the past four years.
However, he too cautioned about protectionism and the need for Ottawa to prepare for continued trade skirmishes.
“With a growing protectionist sentiment in the U.S. across both parties, Canadian firms will need our government to work hard to keep access to the U.S. market (as) open as possible,” he said.
Canadian firms will need our government to work hard to keep access to the U.S. market (as) open as possible
Dan Kelly, CFIB
Still, the head of the association representing Canada’s aluminum industry — which was twice hit with tariffs by the Trump administration — expected less “volatility” if Biden becomes president.
“It certainly will be a shift from confrontation to collaboration, in terms of attitude,” said Jean Simard, chief executive of the Aluminum Association of Canada.
He said Biden, who served as vice-president under former U.S. president Barack Obama, has been public about his belief in multi-lateralism and “working with allied countries on shared undertakings.”
